Bullet mold

ABSTRACT

A bullet mold has hinged mold bodies with matching cavities and an apertured sprue plate pivotally secured for movement over said cavities. Brackets on the mold bodies releasably engage a mold insert with a plurality of insert members which extend into the cavities to form hollow portions in the completed castings. Alternate orientation of the cavities and modification of the form of the insert members provides for the formation of hollow base or hollow point bullets.

United States Patent [1 1 J ackman [4 1 Mar. 11, 1975 1 BULLET MOLD [76] Inventor: John A. Jackman, 8 Beaudoin St.,

Bedford, NH. 03102 [22] Filed: June 11, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 369,109

[52] U.S. Cl. 249/170, 249/122 [51] Int. Cl B41b 11/62 [58] Field of Search ..249/161,170,l71,165, 249/94, 102, 108, 122, 149, 166, 167, 168

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 30,533 10/1860 Evans 249/170 X 354,422 12/1886 Jewett 249/170 X 936.475 10/1-909 Putney 249/171 X 1,263,771 4/1918 Hurst 249/161 X 1,431,164 lO/l922 Kukac 249/170 1,493,911 5/1924 Washburn.... 249/170 1,608,333 ll/l926 Millican 249/170 X 1,763,977 6/1930 McNcely 249/161 X 1,857,289 5/1932 Schwartz." 249/170 X 3,718,310 2/1973 Ccrone 249/165 3,749,351 7/1973 Lee 249/170 Primary ExaminerFrancis S. Husar Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert G. McMorrow [57] ABSTRACT A bullet mold has hinged mold bodies with matching cavities and an apertured sprue plate pivotally secured for movement over said cavities. Brackets on the mold bodies releasably engage a mold insert with a plurality of insert members which extend into the cavities to form hollow portions in the completed castings. Alternate orientation of the cavities and modification of the form of the insert members provides for the formation of hollow base or hollow point bullets.

1 Claim, 12 Drawing Figures BULLET MOLD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Patent No. Patentee Issue Date 35,334 Tatham May 20, 1862 407,536 Kynoch et al July 23, 1889 1,635,261 Daniels July 12, 1927 2,356,966 Bardell Aug. 29, 1944 2,379,701 Friedman July 3, 1945.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the fabrication of bullets of various types, including those bullets employed in antique firearms, it is necessary to employ cast bullets as opposed to commercially available items. Such cast bullets have heretofore been limited as to style and variety to those forms commonly known as solid bullets. While hollow base or hollow point ammunition has beeen commercially available in assembled cartridge form, the particular advantages to be gained from the use of these forms have been unavailable in cast bullets. The present invention provides a non-complex adaptation of existing bullet molds which permits such molds to be employed in the casting of improved bullets of hollow base or hollow point form.

The form of this adaptation is such that it may be readily applied to existing molds, without destruction of the mold. Thus, the mold may continue to be used in casting solid bullets.

Additionally, the form of the mold insert is readily variable whereby the configuration of the indentation of the bullet may be changed.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a bullet mold according to the present invention, for casting hollow bodied bullets;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, showing the mold insert assembly in place and one of the mold cavities filled with casting metal to form a hollow bodied bullet;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the mold insert;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a hollow bodied bullet formed in the mold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, through the hollow bodied bullet of FIG. 5, taken on the line 6-6 thereof;

FIG. '7 is a fragmentary plan view of a-bullet mold, similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating a, modification of a mold for casting a'hollow'point bullet;

FIG. 8 is .a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, taken on line 88 of FIG. 7,,showingthemold insert in place and one of the cavities filled with casting metal to form a hollow point bullet;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. '8;

'FIG. 10 is an elevational view of'the'mol'd insert;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of ahollow point-bullet formed in the mold of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view throughthe hollow nosed bullet of FIG. 11, taken on'the line 12-112 thereof.

DESCRIPTION'OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing in more detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 through 3, a first form of bullet mold according to this invention is therein disclosed and identified generally by reference character 20. The mold 20 includes first and second mold bodies 22 and 24 of'elongated, substantially rectangular form. For purposes of orientation and description herein, the mold bodies have uppersides 26, 28, and lower sides 30, 32, respectively. Each also has ends 34, 36, and 38, 40. Each of j the mold bodies 22 and 24 is formed with a horizontal slot 42 and 44 which extend the full length thereof from end-to-end on the opposite outer faces of the bodies.

Seated tightly in the slots 42 and 44 are actuating jaw members 46 and 48. The jaw members have inturned hinge sections 50 and 52 which are pivotally secured together by an enlarged hinge pin 54.

To insure correct alignment of the mold bodies, a series of sockets 56 receive pins 58, such sockets and pins extending from the inner faces of the mold bodies. The jaw members are manipulated by movement of handles 60 and 62 which are secured to the ends thereof remote from the hinge sections 50 and 52. The handlesare preferably formed of wood or other heat insulating material.

A sprue plate 64 of a dimension and configuration such that it completely overlies the mold body ispivotally mounted on the mold on a vertical axle 6'6'threadedly engaged in a bore 68 of the mold body 22. The axle has an outer retaining bearing 70, and an enlarged head 72 with a recessed hexagonal socket therein. The sprue plate is formed with inverted frusto conical openings 74, positioned as described below. The'p'late, at a corner thereof diagonally opposite the axle, has an angular slot 76 therein (FIG. 1), which is engageable on a vertical shaft 78 extending upwardly from the mold body 24. This shaft also carries a retaining washer 8'0 with a locking head 82. The plate further has an upturned extension 84 to facilitate its pivotal movement.

In the first described form of the invention, themold bodies 22 and 24 each has a'series of matching .mold cavities 86 formed therein. The-.cavities86 extend the full height of the mold bodies, andihave enlarged portions 88 adjacent the lower sides 30 and 32 'ofthe'bodies, and reduced portions 90 adjacent the upper sides 26, 28. It will be observed in the-drawings, particularly in FIG. 3, that with the mold bodiespivoted into facing abutment, and with the sprue platein position-over the abutting bodies, the sprue openings 74 arecoaxially aligned with the mold cavities. This arrangement provides for the introduction of molten lead or other casting material into the mold.

Bracket means 92 for the attachment hereof is pro vided on the lower sides 30 and 32 of the mold bodies. Such bracket means comprise a pair of oppositely facing bracket members 94, 96, each having an inwardly projecting flange 98, 100 forming a stepped ledge. The mold bodies and the brackets have openings therein, and elongated mounting bolts 102, 104 extend through the brackets and bodies to secure the latter in place. The bolts also preferably extend through the jaws 46 and 48, further securing the jaws to the respective mold bodies.

The mold insert assembly 106 employed in the first form of the invention is shown dismounted from the mold in FIG. 4. The assembly includes a base member 108 of T-form in cross section, having a main portion 110 and a reduced portion 112. The base is shaped for engagement by the bracket, with the enlarged main portion 110 being clamped under the flanges 98 and 100. The base has a series of openings formed therein, including a center opening 114 and outer openings 113. An elongated, substantially cylindrical bolt 116 is engaged in the center opening, and carries a mold insert member, described below, on the interior side. A handle 118 formed of wood or other material resistant to heat conduction is secured on the bolt and is separated from the base by a spacer 120 a nut 122 maintaining the same in place. The outer openings 113 have threaded stub shafts 124 mounted therein and retained by exterior lock nuts 126. lnsert members are also provided on these shafts.

The insert members 128 each has a substantially cylindrical section 130 adjacent the base 108, and tapered reduced upper sections 132. The purpose of the inserts is to form a hollow base in a cast bullet 134, as shown in FIGS. and 6. To this purpose, the inserts extend into the mold cavities. Molten metal is introduced into the cavities through the sprue openings 74 and fills the cavities thereby surrounding the inserts. The resultant casting includes in the base of the bullet a hollow or void 136 of the form of the insert.

Turning to the form of the invention described in FIGS. 7 and following, a mold and insert similar in many respects to the first described form of the invention is shown. In order to avoid repetition of description, like components of the second form of the invention, a, are identified in the drawing by reference characters corresponding to those of the initially described embodiment, a letter a being added for distinction. The mold assembly 20a is directed to the casting of hollow point bullets 200 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, such bullets having a tapered core 202 therein. In this form of the invention, the cavities 204 have enlarged portions 206 adjacent the upper sides 26a, 28a of the mold bodies 22a, 24a, and the reduced or tapered portions 208 of the cavities terminate inwardly of the mold lower sides 30a, 32a.

The insert assembly 106a has a series of substantially cylindrical enlarged elements 210 extending from the base 108a thereof. Elongated, tapered pins 212 extend axially from the elements 210. The mold bodies 22a and 24a have chambers 214 and 216 formed therein to accommodate the elements and pins, the pins extending into the cavities to form the cores 202 of the completed castings.

As a further alternative (not shown), the mold bodies are each horizontally slotted to receive a base of an insert body therein when closed. Both the horizontal slots and the base of the insert body may take any appropriate form.

I claim:

1. A bullet mold for casting bullets from molten metal, the mold comprising:

first and second mold bodies, each of said bodies having inner faces with matching mold cavities formed therein, and each having upper and lower sides and opposite ends;

an actuatingjaw member for each mold body, the jaw members each having hinge sections and being hingedly connected to one another at said hinge sections;

the jaw members having ends remote from the hinge sections, and having handles on such ends;

the jaw members being connected between the hinge sections and the handles to the respective mold bodies;

a sprue plate hingedly connected to the upper side of one of said mold bodies and being detachably engageable with the upper side of the other of said mold bodies, the sprue plate having openings therein aligned with said mold cavities when the body inner faces are in abutting relation and the sprue plate is in engaged condition;

laterally opposed engagement means carried by the lower sides of respective mold bodies;

a removable mold insert assembly for the formation of hollow sections in the castings made in said mold cavities, including an insert member for each of said cavities, and including a base member commonly supporting said insert members and engaged on respective sides by the engagement means of the lower sides of the mold bodies upon pivoting of said jaw members to closed position to capture said assembly with said inserts properly positioned within said cavity; and

the engagement means of the lower sides of the mold bodies comprising oppositely facing bracket members each having a lower projecting flange and wherein said base member is of stepped cross sectional configuration with lower recesses on opposed sides receiving respectively said projecting 

1. A bullet mold for casting bullets from molten metal, the mold comprising: first and second mold bodies, each of said bodies having inner faces with matching mold cavities formed therein, and each having upper and lower sides and opposite ends; an actuating jaw member for each mold body, the jaw members each having hinge sections and being hingedly connected to one another at said hinge sections; the jaw members having ends remote from the hinge sections, and having handles on such ends; the jaw members being connected between the hinge sections and the handles to the respective mold bodies; a sprue plate hingedly connected to the upper side of one of said mold bodies and beIng detachably engageable with the upper side of the other of said mold bodies, the sprue plate having openings therein aligned with said mold cavities when the body inner faces are in abutting relation and the sprue plate is in engaged condition; laterally opposed engagement means carried by the lower sides of respective mold bodies; a removable mold insert assembly for the formation of hollow sections in the castings made in said mold cavities, including an insert member for each of said cavities, and including a base member commonly supporting said insert members and engaged on respective sides by the engagement means of the lower sides of the mold bodies upon pivoting of said jaw members to closed position to capture said assembly with said inserts properly positioned within said cavity; and the engagement means of the lower sides of the mold bodies comprising oppositely facing bracket members each having a lower projecting flange and wherein said base member is of stepped cross sectional configuration with lower recesses on opposed sides receiving respectively said projecting flanges. 